Limosella aquatica

Oozeling ( Limosella aquatica )

The ( Ordinary ) Oozeling ( Limosella aquatica ), also called herb mud or mud bells, is an annual, dwarf plant species that occur in wetlands. The genus Limosella include eleven species, of which in Central Europe only Limosella aquatica is represented worldwide. Traditionally, the Oozeling is classified in the family of the figwort family ( Scrophulariaceae ); According to recent molecular biological studies it is, however, performed by some authors under the plantain family ( Plantaginaceae ).

Features

The plant is a fickle Therophyt and is high between two and ten centimeters. The long -stalked, spateligen to pfriemlichen, fleshy leaves growing from a basal rosette. Are edged cloth sheaths around the stems. From the axils also arise streamers take root again and thus form small lawn. The small, pink - whitish flowers of three to ten millimeters in diameter are also basal - their two to five inches long stalks so grow directly out of Rosette - and in the calyx bell-shaped area. The short corolla tube is often yellowish, the Schlunf open. The flowering period extends from July to October. The fruit is a capsule rounded from 2.5 to 4 millimeters long and from 1.5 to 3 millimeters in width.

Occurrence

The sludge Ling is a Pionierbesiedler open, alternately wet, humus, nutrient-rich sand, mud and mud flats on the banks of water bodies. He is a Kennart the phytosociological class of dwarf rush companies ( " Isoëto - Nanojuncetea bufonii Br.-Bl. et Tx. Ex Westhoff et al. 1946 " ) and in particular also the association " Cypero fusci - Limoselletum aquaticae it ( Oberd. 1957 ) Korneck 1960 ". First of all zones in the water level fluctuation range of rivers, standing Auengewässern, but also in extensively farmed carp ponds are colonized when they are flooded or accumulated in the spring and early summer and fall dry periodically in late summer and autumn. The seeds fall to the ground and when a new flood either drifted away or remain on the ground. In the next summer low-water phase, they germinate - often equal in mass, as is typical for one-year pioneer vegetation.

The species is rather rare and only spread very scattered - but is also easily overlooked. Focuses on large river valleys, in Germany especially the middle Elbe and the Rhine. By supporting structures of natural sandy shore banks and river regulation, which require a more stable seasonal water levels, this already very low competitive plant has fallen in their inventory. In Central Europe the species is not endangered, but is out for example in the individual German states in Red Lists.